Microfluidic valve mechanism

Abstract

A valve mechanism includes a rigid body structure through which various channel structures are configured. A valve actuation mechanism is coupled to the rigid body structure. The valve mechanism is actuated to move a plunger within a fluid pathway, thereby opening the fluid pathway through the valve mechanism. An actuation element is actuated by the valve actuation mechanism and either directly or indirectly releases a retaining force holding the plunger in closed position. The pressure from the input fluid flow is sufficient to move the plunger once the retaining force is removed, thereby opening the valve mechanism. The valve mechanism can be configured as a single-use device, where the valve mechanism is initially closed and when actuated, is open. Once open, the valve mechanism remains open, even when the valve actuation mechanism is disengaged.

1 . A valve mechanism to regulate fluid flow, the valve comprising:
 a. a fluid pathway;   b. a movable plunger coupled to the fluid pathway and configured to be moved by a force of fluid flowing through the fluid pathway, wherein the plunger is movable between a first plunger position and a second plunger position such that in the first plunger position the plunger blocks fluid flow through the fluid pathway and the valve mechanism is closed, and in the second plunger position fluid flows through the fluid pathway and the valve mechanism is open; and   c. an actuation pin coupled to the plunger, wherein the actuation pin is movable between a first pin position where the actuation pin prevents movement of the plunger, and a second pin position where the actuation pin does not prevent movement of the plunger and the fluid flow forces the plunger from the first plunger position to the second plunger position.   
     
     
         2 . The valve mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the valve mechanism is a 2-way valve. 
     
     
         3 . The valve mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the actuation pin is restricted to actuation in a single direction. 
     
     
         4 . The valve mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising an actuation mechanism coupled to the actuation pin, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to move the actuation pin from the first pin position to the second pin position. 
     
     
         5 . The valve mechanism of  claim 4  wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a solenoid. 
     
     
         6 . The valve mechanism of  claim 4  wherein the actuation mechanism is de-coupled from the actuation pin after the actuation pin is in the second pin position, further wherein after de-coupling, the actuation pin remains in the second pin position. 
     
     
         7 . The valve mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the plunger is restricted to actuation in a single direction. 
     
     
         8 . A valve mechanism to regulate fluid flow, the valve comprising:
 a. an input channel configured to input fluid flow;   b. an output channel configured to output fluid flow;   c. a plunger channel configured to provide fluid flow from the input channel to the output channel;   d. a movable plunger positioned within the plunger channel and configured to be moved by a pressure of the input fluid flow, wherein the plunger is movable between a first plunger position and a second plunger position such that in the first plunger position the plunger blocks fluid flow from the input channel to the output channel, and in the second plunger position fluid flows from the input channel to the output channel;   e. an actuation channel positioned such that a portion of the actuation channel crosses a portion of the plunger channel, thereby forming a common area through which the plunger moves; and   f. an actuation pin positioned within the actuation channel, wherein a first pin portion of the actuation pin has a first pin diameter and a second pin portion of the actuation pin has a second pin diameter that is less than the first pin diameter, further wherein the actuation pin is movable between a first pin position where the first pin portion is coincident with the crossing of the plunger channel and the actuation channel and the first pin portion occupies at least a portion of the common area, and a second pin position where the second pin portion is aligned in a same cross-section of the actuation channel as the common area and the second pin portion does not occupy the common area, wherein when the plunger is in the first plunger position the actuation pin is in the first pin position, thereby preventing movement of the plunger to the second plunger position, and when the actuation pin is moved to the second pin position movement of the plunger to the second plunger position is enabled.   
     
     
         9 . The valve mechanism of  claim 8  wherein a longitudinal axis of the actuation channel is rotated substantially 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the intermediate channel. 
     
     
         10 . The valve mechanism of  claim 8  wherein the valve mechanism is a 2-way valve. 
     
     
         11 . The valve mechanism of  claim 8  wherein the actuation pin is restricted to actuation in a single direction. 
     
     
         12 . The valve mechanism of  claim 8  further comprising an actuation mechanism coupled to the actuation pin, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to move the actuation pin from the first pin position to the second pin position. 
     
     
         13 . The valve mechanism of  claim 12  wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a solenoid. 
     
     
         14 . The valve mechanism of  claim 12  wherein the actuation mechanism is de-coupled from the actuation pin after the actuation pin is in the second pin position, further wherein after de-coupling, the actuation pin remains in the second pin position. 
     
     
         15 . The valve mechanism of  claim 8  wherein the plunger is restricted to actuation in a single direction. 
     
     
         16 . The valve mechanism of  claim 8  wherein the second pin portion is contoured to match a shape of the plunger. 
     
     
         17 . A valve mechanism to regulate fluid flow, the valve comprising:
 a. an input channel configured to input fluid flow;   b. an output channel configured to output fluid flow;   c. a plunger channel configured to provide fluid flow from the input channel to the output channel;   d. a movable plunger positioned within the plunger channel and configured to be moved by a pressure of the input fluid flow, wherein the plunger is movable between a first plunger position and a second plunger position such that in the first plunger position the plunger blocks fluid flow from the input channel to the output channel, and in the second plunger position fluid flows from the input channel to the output channel, further wherein the plunger includes a first detent;   e. an actuation channel;   f. an interconnect channel coupled between the plunger channel and the actuation channel, and a movable element positioned within the interconnect channel, wherein when the plunger is in the first plunger position the first detent is aligned with the interconnect channel; and   g. an actuation pin positioned within the actuation channel, wherein the actuation pin includes a second detent, further wherein the actuation pin is movable between a first pin position where a side surface of the actuation pin is aligned with the interconnect channel and a second pin position where the second detent is aligned with the interconnect channel, wherein when the plunger is in the first plunger position the actuation pin is in the first pin position, thereby positioning the movable element in the first detent, which prevents movement of the plunger to the second plunger position, and when the actuation pin is moved to the second pin position the second detent is aligned with the interconnect channel, which forces the movable element out of the first detent and into the second detent, thereby enabling movement of the plunger to the second plunger position.   
     
     
         18 . The valve mechanism of  claim 17  wherein the movable element is a round object. 
     
     
         19 . The valve mechanism of  claim 17  further comprising a spring element with a first end coupled to a surface of the actuation channel and a second end coupled to the actuation pin. 
     
     
         20 . The valve mechanism of  claim 19  further comprising a retaining pin, wherein the actuation pin includes a third detent and the retaining pin is positioned at a first end of the third detent to retain the actuation pin in the first pin position. 
     
     
         21 . The valve mechanism of  claim 20  wherein the retaining pin is positioned at a second end of the third detent to retain the actuation pin in the second pin position. 
     
     
         22 . The valve mechanism of  claim 17  wherein the valve mechanism is a 2-way valve. 
     
     
         23 . The valve mechanism of  claim 17  wherein the actuation pin is restricted to actuation in a single direction. 
     
     
         24 . The valve mechanism of  claim 17  further comprising an actuation mechanism coupled to the actuation pin, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to move the actuation pin from the first pin position to the second pin position. 
     
     
         25 . The valve mechanism of  claim 24  wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a solenoid. 
     
     
         26 . The valve mechanism of  claim 24  wherein the actuation mechanism is de-coupled from the actuation pin after the actuation pin is in the second pin position, further wherein after de-coupling, the actuation pin remains in the second pin position. 
     
     
         27 . The valve mechanism of  claim 17  wherein the plunger is restricted to actuation in a single direction. 
     
     
         28 . A valve mechanism to regulate fluid flow, the valve comprising:
 a. an input channel configured to input fluid flow;   b. an output channel configured to output fluid flow;   c. a plunger channel configured to provide fluid flow from the input channel to the output channel;   d. a movable plunger positioned within the plunger channel and configured to be moved by a pressure of the input fluid flow, wherein the plunger is movable between a first plunger position and a second plunger position such that in the first plunger position the plunger blocks fluid flow from the input channel to the output channel, and in the second plunger position fluid flows from the input channel to the output channel;   e. a rotating barrel assembly coupled to the plunger, wherein the barrel assembly includes a latching mechanism and a cam surface, further wherein the barrel assembly is movable between a first barrel position where the latching mechanism is coupled to the plunger to retain the plunger in the first plunger position, and a second barrel position where the latching mechanism is de-coupled from the plunger, thereby enabling movement of the plunger to the second plunger position; and   f. an actuation mechanism coupled to the cam surface, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to apply force to the cam surface, thereby rotating the barrel assembly from the first barrel position to the second barrel position.   
     
     
         29 . The valve mechanism of  claim 28  wherein the valve mechanism is a 2-way valve. 
     
     
         30 . The valve mechanism of  claim 28  wherein the barrel assembly is restricted to actuation in a single direction. 
     
     
         31 . The valve mechanism of  claim 28  wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a solenoid. 
     
     
         32 . The valve mechanism of  claim 28  wherein the actuation mechanism is de-coupled from the actuation pin after the barrel assembly is in the second barrel position, further wherein after de-coupling, the barrel assembly remains in the second barrel position. 
     
     
         33 . The valve mechanism of  claim 28  wherein the plunger is restricted to actuation in a single direction.